Holy smokes this is exciting!! Out to the Youth Run last night with our kids and niece and nephew, tonight is the 5k and tomorrow the 10k, 1/2 and full marathon. What a line-up! Lots of friends in that 5k tonight, so will try to get out there to cheer them on. Then, try to get some sleep for tomorrow's TEST!
Alright, so we've been tapering. My legs, hips, and knees feel better than they have in 6 weeks. That may no longer be the case after tomorrow's marathon, but that's all a part of the "fun." I have lost a bit of fitness this past month....just had to rest the hips, thighs, and knees. Distance running is like life: lots of trade-offs. So, I'll be huffing and puffing a bit harder, but the rest period means that I can run. I imagine many of the participants in each of the races has a similar situation. Make the trade-offs and get to the starting line!
Somehow, some way, running really does charge the spirit. Two weeks ago, I had real concerns that I might be facing a very painful and difficult run. Rest, stretching, massage therapy and tapering have combined to put me in a better state of mind. Also, adrenalin helps too!
Congratulations in advance to all the runners, in every race! And a special thanks to the volunteers, the race organizers, and the spectators!! You are the very best!
Go FarGo!!
I'll try to capture a few post-race thoughts in the days ahead. In the meantime: "This is the day the Lord has made--rejoice and be glad in it." Every step of the way!!!
Drew (Bib #2090)
Friday, May 21, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Five Days to go. Carbs anyone?
Ok, so I'm not going to win the Blog contest that my wife, Kathleen, appears to be having with me. Equally clear: my sore thighs and hips don't seem to be gathering the attention that her quest to run a marathon 7 months after brain aneurym surgery seems to be gathering. Go figure :-)
You should quickly finish reading this post and then promptly go to her blog for some serious inspiration. And then you should show up at the pre-race spaghetti dinner Friday night and watch her speech. Kathleen likes to point out that every runner has their story.....ok, that is true, but hers is pretty dang good! I'm very proud of Kathleen's tenacity and her will to be there at the starting line on the 22nd. It's going to be a great day.....but she'll need your encouragement to stop crying long enough to run the race she has trained so hard for! If you see her before or during the race, remind her there is plenty of time to cry afterward---"run, Forest, run!!"
I always enjoy the last week before a run like this. It's time to eat some pizza and pasta, rest the wheels, take some short, slow runs, and imagine your way through the course. Imagine the tough parts but also picture gliding along on the wave of all that training! I am not usually very good about stretching (which is probably why my legs hurt so badly at this point), but I always make sure to stretch a lot in the days leading up to a run like this.....and I usually take two 20 second breaks to stretch gingerly during the marathon. Nothing gets the stride back like a 20 second stretch at mile 15 and mile 20. Feet a little more than shoulder width apart and gentle reach down to your shoes....standard stretch....take it easy but get the benefit of the stretch. Don't linger too long....20 or 30 seconds is all you need, then back at it!
Thanks in advance to all the volunteers and all the spectators along the route in in the Fargodome for the finish--every one of us on the course appreciates your efforts so much. You make this a world-class event for all the participants and for these great communities!
I am looking forward to the run on Saturday, sore legs be danged! See you at the races! Whatever your pick, the kids race, the 5k, 10k, the relay, the 1/2 M or M, you are about to be a part of a great event. It's the first day of the rest of our lives--start it off with a run!!!
Drew
You should quickly finish reading this post and then promptly go to her blog for some serious inspiration. And then you should show up at the pre-race spaghetti dinner Friday night and watch her speech. Kathleen likes to point out that every runner has their story.....ok, that is true, but hers is pretty dang good! I'm very proud of Kathleen's tenacity and her will to be there at the starting line on the 22nd. It's going to be a great day.....but she'll need your encouragement to stop crying long enough to run the race she has trained so hard for! If you see her before or during the race, remind her there is plenty of time to cry afterward---"run, Forest, run!!"
I always enjoy the last week before a run like this. It's time to eat some pizza and pasta, rest the wheels, take some short, slow runs, and imagine your way through the course. Imagine the tough parts but also picture gliding along on the wave of all that training! I am not usually very good about stretching (which is probably why my legs hurt so badly at this point), but I always make sure to stretch a lot in the days leading up to a run like this.....and I usually take two 20 second breaks to stretch gingerly during the marathon. Nothing gets the stride back like a 20 second stretch at mile 15 and mile 20. Feet a little more than shoulder width apart and gentle reach down to your shoes....standard stretch....take it easy but get the benefit of the stretch. Don't linger too long....20 or 30 seconds is all you need, then back at it!
Thanks in advance to all the volunteers and all the spectators along the route in in the Fargodome for the finish--every one of us on the course appreciates your efforts so much. You make this a world-class event for all the participants and for these great communities!
I am looking forward to the run on Saturday, sore legs be danged! See you at the races! Whatever your pick, the kids race, the 5k, 10k, the relay, the 1/2 M or M, you are about to be a part of a great event. It's the first day of the rest of our lives--start it off with a run!!!
Drew
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